Chapter 68: Dismissing the Chancellor Part 3

Currently, the very foundation of Great Chen rested on Gu Huaiyu. Everything from court politics and military power to criminal law, finance, negotiations with Eastern Liao, and border defenses was tied to him.

To dismiss the Chancellor was not just to fire a man; it was to rip out the spine of the nation.

Gu Huaiyu was in no rush. He tapped his finger twice on the armrest of the couch. “Eunuch Xu, didn’t you hear His Majesty’s order?”

“Go ahead and write.”

Eunuch Xu, of course, obeyed Gu Huaiyu’s word. He rose shakily, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and returned to the desk, lifting the cinnabar brush once more.

Yuan Zhuo’s body was taut and trembling. He didn’t even notice the blood dripping from his palms. He watched the scene and suddenly let out a low laugh.

This Hall of Chaste Government was his. These nine layers of palaces were his. Yet the entire court only recognized Gu Huaiyu. Even his personal attendant looked to Gu Huaiyu’s expression before obeying the Emperor’s command.

He used his sleeve to roughly wipe his tears. His expression turned stubborn and vicious. He thought: You only care about power? Fine. I won’t let you have it.

“Regarding Chancellor of the Secretariat, Gu Yu: for the crimes of murdering imperial kin and overstepping his authority—”

“To stabilize the court and secure the state, I hereby dismiss him from his position.”

“So it is decreed.”

Gu Huaiyu kept his eyes down, idly inspecting his fingers as if what was happening had nothing to do with him.

Eunuch Xu’s hands shook as he held the decree. He began to shuffle toward the exit, but after two steps, Gu Huaiyu’s voice stopped him. “Where are you going?”

“Reporting to the Lord Chancellor… I must take this to the Secretariat Seal Office…”

At that, Eunuch Xu’s voice died out. He froze, unable to move another inch.

The hall was terrifyingly quiet, save for the faint crackle of a spark in the brazier.

Yuan Zhuo’s face changed instantly. He bit his lip hard.

He knew the process.

Even a decree to dismiss the Chancellor, even one spoken by the Emperor himself, had to be transcribed by the Secretariat Seal Office and then sent to the Chancellor for his official stamp of confirmation. Only after the stamp was applied could it be sent to the Three Departments for joint signing and then to the Ministry of Personnel to be officially enacted.

—And the Chancellor of the Secretariat was Gu Huaiyu.

In other words, even if he spoke the decree and signed it himself, it ultimately required Gu Huaiyu to “approve” his own dismissal.

Gu Huaiyu reached out his hand toward Eunuch Xu and chuckled. “I am right here. Why should you go to the trouble of making a trip?”

Eunuch Xu glanced at Yuan Zhuo’s hideous expression, then tremblingly handed the wet decree to Gu Huaiyu.

Gu Huaiyu took it and tossed it aside. The flames in the brazier flared up, illuminating his frost-cold features. “Have you had enough of your tantrum?”

That look was for an unreasonable child. It made Yuan Zhuo’s entire body go numb. This single look was harder to accept than the fact that Gu Huaiyu had killed Prince Xian.

He gritted his teeth, stumbling back to sit behind his desk. He closed his eyes and said in a heavy voice, “At tomorrow’s morning court, send word to the Secretariat, the Bureau of Military Affairs, and the Chancellery. I want a public vote from all officials to dismiss the Chancellor!”

Eunuch Xu’s legs went weak and he fell to the floor. Since the founding of the dynasty, no Emperor had ever used such a method to oust a Chancellor.

Gu Huaiyu didn’t want to say another word. He stood up and casually adjusted his sleeves. “If Your Majesty has nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

He turned and walked toward the exit, resolute and without looking back. “I will be at the morning court tomorrow as promised.”

Yuan Zhuo was stunned. He instinctively stood up, his feet following after Gu Huaiyu as he reached out to grab a corner of his sleeve—

But he stopped dead at the hall’s threshold. A tall figure was crouching just outside.

As Gu Huaiyu passed, he idly patted the man’s head. That infamous god of slaughter immediately sprang up and followed him, never straying more than a step away.

The young Emperor’s hand slowly fell.

Pei Jingyi looked back at him, baring a flash of white teeth in a grin. His eyes clearly said: Go ahead, try following him.

Gu Huaiyu, his face dark, walked down the stairs in silence.

No one on the palace paths dared approach. The eunuchs and attendants lowered their heads and backed away, afraid of being caught in the wake of such murderous intent.

He walked quickly, not even waiting for his palanquin to steady before stepping in. He left the palace gates and went straight to his carriage.

The moment the carriage door opened, he ducked inside. A wave of exhaustion crashed over him, leaving him weary to his very bones.

Pei Jingyi squeezed into the carriage uninvited. He narrowed his eyes at him for a moment before asking out of the blue, “My Lord, shall we stage a coup?”

His tone was as casual as if he were asking what to have for dinner.

“…”

Gu Huaiyu’s somber mood was momentarily broken by the absurdity of the question. He couldn’t help but laugh.

But Pei Jingyi was serious.